St. Charles East’s Colin Harrington was just happy to be back on the field, let alone score a goal.
After barely playing as a freshman and missing all but seven games due to injury last season, the junior midfielder is ready to make an impact for Saints. And how exactly did he do that Monday?
He scored his first career varsity goal.
“It was amazing — really enjoyable,” Harrington said. “That was unimaginable. I’m so happy.”
Harrington’s tally with 4:18 left in the first half was the first of four goals for host St. Charles East which rolled to a 4-0 season-opening win over Oswego.
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Huxley Kapoor scored off a corner kick for the Saints (1-0), while Sam Arville and Brendan Szerlong each converted penalty kicks in the second half.
Harrington broke the two metatarsal bones in his right foot in the seventh game last year, shelving him for 2 1/2 months. The absence extended into club soccer season.
“There was definitely pressure on my foot,” Harrington said. “I felt the change. I was not myself at all. After a couple weeks of just nonstop training every day, I finally got back to being myself.”
St. Charles East coach Vince DiNuzzo had Harrington’s older brother, Jack, in the program for four years, so he realized what the Saints had when Colin arrived in high school.
“We’ve known what kind of player Colin is,” DiNuzzo said. “We knew he was gifted. He’s starting to reach where he didn’t think he could reach, which is like a top-tier player.”
Playing in the midfield, Harrington didn’t necessarily think he would score a goal right out of the gates Monday. DiNuzzo gives him the option to make those runs, however.
“He has a motor,” DiNuzzo said. “He does a little bit of everything. He defends at a high level. He can score goals. He can facilitate. It’s awesome to see him healthy and playing.
“He’s kind of a box-to-box midfielder, but we give him the freedom to get into that attacking part of the field when he sees fit. He loves to shoot the ball.”
St. Charles East dominated the run of play but didn’t dent the net until Harrington controlled a pass from Alex Larson and took it from there.
“I wasn’t expecting to score,” Harrington said. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m playing back, play the ball.’ I took a touch and saw a target and thought, ‘Why not?’”
Shortly thereafter, Oswego nearly made it a game. Ryan Maveus hit the post with 1:10 left in the first half as the Panthers applied some late pressure before the break.
After not taking advantage, Oswego allowed Kapoor to score at the 34:30 mark of the second half and the Saints pulled away.
“I think we had our opportunities and we couldn’t finish in the end,” Oswego coach Gaspar Arias said. “We are rebuilding our team. We have a lot of younger players, only three returning starters.
“It’s going to be challenging to get into the mindset of the varsity level. It’s going to take some games. We have a lot of good talent.”
DiNuzzo, meanwhile, knows that championships aren’t won in August. Still, he was pleased with St. Charles East’s effort in the season opener.
“Playing a game that mattered meant a lot to them,” DiNuzzo said. “I hope they can match this energy. They looked like they wanted to be here and they didn’t stop.”
Finally healthy and earning a starting role, Harrington will be eager to keep it going.
“I just want to start every game, play as much as I can and stay healthy,” he said. “And for the team, I want us to go far. We feel very confident.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
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